Footwear



April 1932- c. A. WALSH 1,854,969

FOOTWEAR Filed Oct. 29, 1950 JZUZ WfOTI 5L9 M at 01 718 2 Patented Apr. 19, 1932 PATENT OFFICE CARL-IN A. WALSH, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS FOOTWEAR Application filed ctober'29, 1930. Serial No. 491,966.

My present invention relates to footwear, and more particularly to a combined leg and stocking and shoe protector.

An important object of the present invention is the provision 'of a protector of this nature which is preferably constructed either of elastic material, or is provided with means to sustain the protector in adjusted position. Preferably the protector will be constructed of thin rubber.

- Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a protector from which seams, closure fasteners, and other undesirable elements are absent, my novel protector constituting a unitary, seamless device.

Another and important object of the invention resides in the provision of means to enable the individual wearer to instantly adjust the height of the protector on the leg to any desired position.

-Another'object of the invention resides in so constructing the bottom or sole portion of my novel device that it may be easily flexed for removal, folding, or the like.

Other objects and features of the invention,

reside in the particular construction and arrangement of my novel footwear, and the above .and other objects and features of the invention, as well as details of construction,

will be hereinafter more fully pointed out,

described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel pro tector in Wearing position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of said protector;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation thereof;

' Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view; c.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig.-1;-'

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view;

Fig. -17 is a cross sectional view on the line 77- of Fig. 6; I

' 1 Fig. 8 is alongitudinal sectional View illustrating a modification; and

- Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan View il- 59 lustrating a slight further modification.

' thereof around the leg at substantially any Referring now to the drawings for a particular description of the invention, 1 designates a continuous foot and leg piece, which is preferably formed as a seamless unitary member, of elastic material, preferably a high grade rubberwhich may be, and preferably is, quite thin. Around the open end of the device I provide a heading 2, secured thereto in any desirable manner, as by vulcanizing, the exposed surface of said beading, or a portion or portions thereof, being knurled or roughened, asclearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The beading 2 is likewise of rubber, and is of a size to insure gripping position to which said beading is adjusted. Because of the presence of the rubber beading 2, I may, if desired, construct the foot and leg portion 1 of other flexible material, such as rubberized silk, in which event the beading 2 will constitute sustaining means for the protector.

When manufacturing the device, a desirable method of forming the foot and leg portion 1 as a unitary seamless member is to utilize a last or form, and subject the same to a dipping operation or operations, subsequently affixing the rib 2 to the formed foot and leg member. However, I do not limit myself to any particular method of manufacturing this device.

Subsequent to the formation of the foot and leg member 1, a sole 3, preferably corrugated, is then applied to the tread portion of the member 1, this sole 3-terminating at the forward end of the shank ortion. A heel 4, also preferably corrugate is applied, and in the case of a high heeled protector, a breast portion 5, preferably integral with the heel 4, is also utilized. If desired, the entire heel portion of the protector may be enclosed in a protecting cupped heel. At each side of themember 1 I apply a reenforcing strip or layer 6, extending from the outer edge of the shank portion upwardly to the ankle portion, these 2 layers 6 preferably increasing in width toward the ankle portion, and meeting or substantially meeting in the front and back, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. There is thus left a considerable portion of the protector itself along the shank portion, as at 7, which permits easy flexing of the protector at this point for removal of the same from the foot of the'wearer, and this point of flexure will also permit easy folding of the supporter for insertion'in a handbag or other container.

Many attractive color combinations are possible in my novel protector. For example, the foot and leg portion 1 may be of one color, and the reenforcing. layers or strips 6 of another color, and, if desired, the beading 2 may be of a still further color.

Thus, it will be appreciated that I have 'devised an attractive, protective, waterproof and efficient shoe and stocking protector, as well as a foot and leg protector, which is also capable of having incorporated therein many desirable contrasting color combinations to appeal to the aesthetic taste of the wearers.

Should the wearer not desire the protector to be extended to its limit, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the wearer, by simply rolling the protector downwardly from the top, will roll the leg portion 1 around the beading 2, the knurled surface or portions of said beading 2 assisting in this rolling and furthermore insuring against looseness or undue gathering of the leg portion 1 at the rolled point. Thus, the protector may be rolled to the position illustrated in. dotted lines at 8 in Fig. 1 to merely cover the foot and calf, or I may \roll. the protector still further to the point illustrated in dotted lines at 9, in Fig. 1, to

simply cover the foot and ankle. H desired, the protector may be so constructed that when in fully extended osition it'will only reach to the point 8 in. ig. 1, or may be made of any determined length desired.

In Fig. 8 Ihave illustrated a slight modification, wherein the foot portion of the protector is provided with an extra layer 10, completely surrounding and enclosing the foot portion of the protector. If thin material is utilized for the protector, this additional layer may be found desirable to eliminate undue wear by the shoe or parts there of. After the attachment orformation of the enclosing layer 10, the 'sole and heel, 3 and 4 respectively, will then be attached and the protector finished in the usual manner. When the additional enclosing layer 10 is utilized, still further contrasting color combinations are possible, since the layer 10 may be of a color to contrast with the color of the leg portion 1, as will be readily understood.

. In Fig.9 I have illustrated the addition of a toe strip 11 this toe strip extending upwardly over the instep to constitute a reenforcing layer over the closure portion of the shoe, and to increase the strength and wearin qualities of the protector at this point. y novel protector possesses the further advantage of being form iitting to a detop of the tector may be rolled, easily put on and taken off. My novel protector is light'in weight, and protects the shoes and hosiery of the wearer from ram, mud, spots, or other in-.

jurious factors.

I may also provide a beading 12, surrounding the leg portion closely adjacent to the oot portion, as clearly illustrated. This beading 12 serves a dual function. When rolling the leg portion downwardly over the heading 2, as illustrated in successive stages at 8 and 9, the rolled leg portion 'ing-2 and the facility with which the pro- 9 may be rolled over the beading 12, which will hold the said rolled portion in adjusted position. Also, should the foot portion of the protector become injured or destroyed, said foot portion may be severed from the remainder of the protector, below the beading 12, in which case a unitary legging defined at its upper and lower extremities by the beading 2 and heading 12, will be provided. The beading 12 is of elastic material, preferably rubber, so that it will. not interfere with the removal of the protect-or over the foot and shoe of the wearer.

I believe that the protector illustrated and described in this application is novel, and I have therefore claimed the same broadly in the resent application.

\ hile I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size, shape, and arrangement of parts within reasonabl wide limits, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims as follows:

1. A protector of the kind described, comprising an integral seamless foot and leg enclosing portion, a sustaining beading of elastic material affixed to the open end of said protector, and reenforcing strips afiixed to the foot portion of said protector and extending upwardly on each side thereoffrom the shank portion to the ankle portion.

2. A protector of the kind described, comprising an integral seamless foot and leg enclosing .1 portion of waterproof material, a sustaining heading of elastic material aflixed .to the open end of said protector, a reenportion, a'sole, and a heel, said sole terminating adjacent to the forward end of the shank portion, whereby a flexible area is provided between the sole and the heel for collapsing or folding of the foot portion of the protector. In testimony whereof, I have signed my ame to this specification.

. CARLIN A. WALSH. 

